Combination table leg and table top retainer



Nov. 24, 1953 c. P. MOLLA COMBINATION TABLE LEG AND TABLE TOP RETAINERFiled April 23, 1952 INVENTOR CHHRLES P. MOLLH Arron Y Patented Nov. 24,1953 COMBINATION TABLE LEG AND TABLE TOP RETAINER Charles P. Molla, NewHyde Park, N. Y. Application April 23, 195.2, Serial No. 283,915

4 Claims.

This invention relates to leg constructions for metal furniture. Moreparticularly, the invention deals with a detachable leg structure foruse in conjunction with knockdown metal furniture, wherein the legmember includes upwardly extending end portions which protrude above theupper surface of the table frame to engage peripheral edges of a tabletop in retaining said top in alinement on the frame and against shiftingor displacement thereon.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from thefollowing description, when taken together with the accompanyingdrawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosedand, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable referencecharacters in each of the views and, in which:

Fig. 1 is an isometric view of one corner portion of a table frameshowing the upper end portion of a leg member with the table topindicated in dot and dash lines, the lower portion of the leg memberbeing broken away.

Fig. 2 is a view looking in the direction of the arrow 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing a modified form ofconstruction.

In Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, I have indicated at III part of arectangular frame of a table top, the frame being of angleironcross-sectional form, in other words, is defined by a dependingperipheral wall II and a horizontal wall [2, the

wall I2 being cut, as seen at [3, where the wall I2 of one side portionI4 joins another side or end portion I5 of the frame, at the corner I6.

In spaced relation to the corner I6, but adjacent said corner, thedepending wall II of the frame I0 has, on each of the portions I4, I5, arectangular aperture II, note Fig. 3, to receive the square shank I8 ofa coupling bolt I9, the square shank I8 also passing through arectangular aperture in the upwardly extending parts 2| of a leg member22.

The arrangement of the aperture 20 in the parts 2| is such as to disposesaid parts in an outwardly extending angular position and to contractthe lower end portions of the parts 2| in forming the usual supportingfoot of the leg member, not shown, the latter being formed by simplyshaping the parts 2| to form a suitable support. In other words, the legmember is preferably formed from a single strip of metal of the samewidth and thickness throughout and this strip has the diverging upperend portions,

the terminal ends 23 of which protrude above the upper surface of thehorizontal part I2 of the frame and these protruding ends form lugs orflanges which engage peripheral edges of a table top 24, as clearlynoted in Fig. 3 of the drawing in retaining the table top againstshifting or displacement on the frame I0. In the construction shown, thetable top is illustrated as being composed of glass, but this top can becomposed of any suitable material.

A nut 25 is mounted on the threaded portion 26 of each bolt I9 tosecurely clamp the leg member 22 to the frame III.

In Fig. of the drawing, I have shown a slight modification and, in thisfigure, I 0' represents the table top frame having the angularlydisposed walls H and I2 and at I9 is shown a bolt, similar to the boltI9. At 22 is shown a leg member having an extending retainer .end 23,similar to the end 23. However, the leg member 22 differs from the legmember 22 in that the part 2| thereof is oifset inwardly, as indicatedat 2'! in close proximity to the lower edge of the Wall I I. In other'words, the leg member may be said to have an angular, or substantiallyL-shaped, upper portion 28 in which the frame it seats.

7 In constructing metal table members of the character described, it hasbeen customary to weld or otherwise fix to a table frame cleats orretainer plates for retaining a tabletop against shifting ordisplacement from the table frame. This operation entails expense to theconstruction of the cleats, as Well as the expense of attaching suchcleats to the frame. It will thus be seen that, with my improved legconstruction, a material saving is effected in not only dispensing withthe use of the retaining cleats but also in dispensing with the laborand operations essential to the use thereof. The leg members have beenmade detachable and the same operations are performed in attaching thepresent leg members, as with other types of leg members and this oneoperation automatically provides, by virtue of the extensions 23, 23' onthe leg members, the means for retaining the table top against shiftingor displacement from the table frame.

It wi l also be apparent that, by virtue of the angular mounting of theleg members, the leg members are kept substantially within theenvironment of the table frame and have the required bracing effect toprovide a sturdy support for the table. In this connection, it will beunder stood that the lower end portions of the leg members, or the feetthereof, will be substantially within boundaries of the corner portion16.

In this connection, it will also be apparent that the angularity of theleg members, as noted in Fig. 2, will depend entirely upon the height ofthe table under construction. Some of these tables are of the low type,such as coffee and cocktail tables; whereas, others are higher and usedfor other purposes.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patcut is:

1. A table structure of the character described, comprising arectangular table top frame having angularly disposed sides of angleironcross-sectional form, said sides intersecting to form a corner, saidsides defining perpendicular peripheral walls and horizontal upperwalls, the perpendicular walls of the frame, adjacent, but spaced, fromsaid corner having angular apertures, a leg member having spaced upperends, said spaced ends having apertures angular in form to correspondwith and register with the angular apertures of the perpendicular wallsbolts for coupling the leg member with the table frame, said boltshaving angular shanks conforming with the apertures of said leg memberand frame to key the leg member on the frame and against displacementtherefrom, and the apertured end portions of said leg member havingparts extending above the upper surface of the horizontal upper walls ofthe table frame to form table top retaining cleats.

2. A table structure of the character described, comprising arectangular table top frame having angularly disposed sides of angleironcross-sectional form, said sides intersecting to form a corner, saidsides defining perpendicular peripheral walls and horizontal upperwalls, the perpendicular Walls of the frame, adjacent, but spaced, fromsaid corner having angular apertures, a leg member having spaced upperends, said spaced ends having apertures angular in form to correspondWith and register with the angular apertures of the perpendicular walls,bolts for coupling the leg member with the table frame, said boltshaving angular shanks conforming with the apertures of said leg memberand frame to key the leg member on the frame and against displacementtherefrom, the apertured end portions of said leg member having partsextending above the upper surface of the horizontal upper walls of thetable frame to form table top retaining cleats, and said leg memberextending outwardly and angularly with respect to the corner of thetable frame.

3. A table structure of the character described, comprising arectangular table top frame having angularly disposed sides of angleironcross-sec tional form, said sides intersecting to form a corner, saidsides defining perpendicular peripheral walls and horizontal upperwalls, the perpendicular Walls of the frame, adjacent, but spaced, fromsaid corner having angular apertures, a leg member having spaced upperends, said spaced ends having apertures angular in form to correspondwith and register with the angular apertures of the perpendicular walls,bolts for coupling the leg member with the table frame, said boltshaving angular shanks conforming with the apertures of said leg memberand frame to key the leg member on the frame and against displacementtherefrom, the apertured end portions of said leg member having partsextending above the upper surface of the horizontal upper walls of thetable frame to form table top retaining cleats, said leg memberextending outwardly and angularly with respect to the corner of thetable frame, and said end portions of the leg member being offsetbeneath and adjacent the perpendicular walls to form seats for the tableframe.

4. In knockdown metal furniture, a table frame having angularly disposedwall portions of angleiron cross sectional form, said wall portionsintersecting in a corner, each Wall portion having a. horizontal topwall part and a depending outer wall part, a leg member having upwardlydiverging end portions arranged upon the outer wall parts of said wallportions in spaced relation to said corner, means passed through saidend portions of said leg members and said outer Wall parts of the tableframe for securing and keying the leg members to the frame, and saiddiverging end portions protruding in terminal ends extending above theupper surface of the top wall parts to form means for retaining a tabletop against shifting displacement on the top wall parts of said frame.

CHARLES P. MOLLA.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 714,981 Wells Dec. 2, 1902 889,600 Graumiller et al. June 2,1908 1,188,613 Block June 27, 1916 1,422,613 Ogden July 11, 19221,854,777 Bales Apr. 19, 1932 2,003,241 Brown May 28, 1935 2,310,904Bales Feb. 9, 1943 2,522,096 Cooke Sept. 12, 1950 2,591,797 Exline etal. Apr, 8, 1952 3; Q1 U, AiAgMmi

